I am starting to build HobbyBoss’ 1/350 Typhoon Class SSBN. I have been looking at some photos on the net and it appears that the missle launch tubes and surrounding area looks to be a zinc chromate green color. Does anyone know if that is correct and if so, what would be a good paint match? Similarly, how about the missles themselves? Are they a pale gray with white nose dome? Any advice appreciated.
RODC
While serving as an active U.S.N. submariner in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, every reference I have ever seen on the Typhoon indicated that they were black. Some photos showed them with a hull-red lower hull, with some photos showing a thin white stripe above that. Some photos also showed a thin white border stripe around the windows in the sail. Basically, they were painted the same as our boats except for those stripes. I do not know of any variations since 1996.
Bill Morrison
Thanks Bill. I have good color references for exterior I was asking about the Russian green color inside the launch bay.
Are you asking about the Missile Tube hatch interior? If so, ours were painted white. There was an orange cover to the tube itself that was visible when the hatch was raised, so, even with the hatch raised, it was rare to see inside the tube. The exterior to the tubes inside the Missile Compartment were covered in an olive green asbestos insulation material in the older boats, but were various shades of orange in newer ones. I’m not sure about Soviet/Russian boats.
Bill
It looks to be more of a medium green in this photo
Lets see see what google can turn up for the cover of the missile. I do believe that the missiles themselves are kept in a protective frangible capsule until launch.
The missile protective case appears to be black
while the missile itself appears to be gray with some lighter areas.
As you can imagine, actual operational use nuclear weapons are not on display for photography.
Especially as secretive as the Soviets were about their stuff.
So Stikpusher, there is a launch tube, inside of which there is a missile protective case, inside of which there is a missile?
Nice pics by the way!
RODC
Correct.
Typically, the inner tube is what is “launched” using a “cold gas generator” (a chemical precess generates a steam). The capsule protects the missile while it ascends through the depths. Another cold gas generator pressurizes the capsule near the surface releasing the missile and starting the rocket motor ignition sequence.
The momentum of the rising capsule carries the missil above the surface and into clear air, where the rocket motor ignites, propelling the missile on its ballistic trajectory.
%he inner capsule allows missile loading/unloading drills and the like, without revealing whether a live missile (or warheads) are present.
Yes, the encapsulated missile is separate from the launch tube of the sub itself.
As far as the pictures go, all I did was a few quick image searches. Some show different shades of green on the same boat on different hatches. If youre planning on building the outer hatches open, it looks like green and black are your main colors. Unless the kit comes with some missiles as well.
There are, of course, always exceptions. Like somebody who obviously loves pool and has a sense of humor…
your break Captain…
At about 15:25, you can see them loading a missile. The inside of the hatch on this particular boat seems to be a faded tan colour.
Nice photo! I agree; there are always exceptions. I can only speak of the boats and the squadrons in which I served. That is why I am intrigued by the idea of green being used on the Typhoons.
Bill
Great video. Thanks for the link Phil.
Found this image. Looks like the launch bay covers are green zinc chromate or similar.
Have no clue how to post a photo…only a link and it is not working quite the way I would like.
RODC
I suppose the green we see all depends upon the quality of the photo, the lighting, weathering, etc…
Color matching off of a photograph is rather difficult. Cheap film, or a lousey digital receiver, can cause trouble. Not using a flash or a flash that is warmer than visible light, or its the last hour of sunlight or the first hour of sunlight can all skew the results. It could also be a faded color that has never been repainted since the ship was built. I’d say its a dull light green with a touch of blue thrown in.